R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

We lost a true legend and a great friend yesterday. Clem passed away while away in Canada tending to his late brothers' personal effects who had passed on in late November. He tangled with the likes of Bob Newberry, the late Al Hofmann and Bill Casey back in the 60's through the 80's. Even today at the age of 80 he called me to inform me he had his Maverick running in the 10:50's @ 125 mph At Island Dragway before it was closed.He was a multi-track champion at Dover Drag Strip and Lebanon Valley Dragway while running Modified Eliminator back in the day. Clem was inducted into the East Coast Drag Times Hall of Fame in 2011. He was an amazing fabricator having personally made several parts for his Ford 6 cylinder modified and today I use a number of items on my stocker he fabricated for me that were not available for my Monza through an aftermarket company. One of my best friends I ever had and will be sorely missed. God Bless and God Speed my good friend...

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I met Clem many many years ago. He was one of the neatest people I have ever met. Whenever he was at the track he was having a great time ! I will miss him dearly !!! RIP , Clem.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Sad day, I remember watching that car race at Island in the late 80's and early 90's. That car flew, and had a real cool sound going down the track. I think it used to have a four speed in it at one tme. God Speed

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

He was always good for a few laughs and loved those stick shift Fords. RIP Clem!

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I had a phone conversation a couple of years ago with Clem. Having decided to sell my stocker and search for a faster ride, I had learned that he was interested in selling his SS/CX Maverick. Had I ever met him in person, he might have convinced me to own it. Sadly, I will never see that day. A twist of irony that he should pass in Canada.

R.I.P. M. Lachance

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Great guy and and great racer for years. Godspeed Clem. Prayers and thoughts go out to his family.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Growing up in Carmel, NY Clem was the "cool drag racer" . He inspired many of us to become drag racers ourselves. God Bless to the Family.

Will Lamprecht

Also my brothers Rob, Carl and Ed

Here is a video I posted on YouTube with Clem

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VSNHj0kOUI"]Mad Frenchman 1980? - YouTube[/ame]

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Very nice fellow...in the few times I met him...he recalled his glory days at Dover.

God Bless Clem...and condolences to his family....

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Clem was a great guy and truly will be missed. I remember hanging out at many Ford Nationals with him and Jeff Roel. He was one heck of a drag racer and always had an exciting story to tell! Our condolences go out from my family to yours.
Godspeed My Friend!

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Clem was a great guy that "ALWAYS" had a smile on his face at the races . He always remembered the people he raced with and tried to help . Another one of racings good guy are gone God speed Clem we'll miss you .

Pudgie

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Clem was just an all around good guy, full of energy. He will be missed.
Rich

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Raced with Clem in modified when I drove a friends car back in the seventies. That is when I got to know him, and still have talked to him regularly whenever we were at the same track. Great fellow, and fun to talk to. I never knew his age, but I would've guessed younger than 80. Never forget that grin he always had. I think I was at the Valley when Clem put the Maverick on it's roof one day, no problem, he fixed it.

Clem is one of the many reasons I enjoy this sport, great guy and will be missed

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I didn't know Clem, but watched him race at Dover way back when.
Godspeed and rest in peace Mad Frenchman.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Dave,
The Maverick Clem rolled At the Valley was a total loss. He ended up stripping the car of all reusable parts and them took a torch to it in his driveway, cutting it up and hauling it away for scrap. The present car is actually his second Maverick which he purchased from the Alizer Bros. from N.J. who sold their car complete when they retired from racing. I remember at Dover in the mid-seventies with the origional Maverick when during eliminations the pin holding the steering column shaft sheared and at about the 330 ft. mark car took a hard left into the dirt embankment, came to a stop, and Clem climbs out of the car holding the steering wheel with the broken shaft still attached and holds it up to show the crowd in the spectator side. the place went nuts cheering ! Some of you oldtimers may remember his '40 Studebaker coupe gasser he ran in the '60s and early 70's in I/G also with a Ford 6 cyl. His first racecar was a '61 Starliner with a big block Ford for power. Clem also raced at the old Montgomery airstrip back in the day with folks like Greg Viscome.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Hey Joe...it's taken me a couple of days to get "composed" to offer our sincerest condolances to you...Clem Lachance was indeed one special "cat"...may you be comforted by the long genuine friendship you shared with Clem...we well "know" Clem was way more than just a good drag racer/cool guy...his ever ready unending willingness to help others...coupled with his always smile/personality for anyone...spoke volumes about who/what he was...my family...just a few of many...who shared his "company" for some years...he will be truly missed...God speed...Drake Viscome & family...p.s. well do remember...being a 10 year old tire wiper on my dad's (Greg) Scotty Fenn/Chassis Research Flathead Ford V-8 dragster @ Montgomery NY...in 1958-9...the "start" of a 50-plus year "addiction" 'eh...a lil' later Clem's then "beautiful" Starliner :)

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

A friend for almost 50 years, that I never heard say a bad thing about anyone. Sure going to miss Clem. R.I.P.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

What many folks don't know is that Clem was an avid ice hockey player, having played minor league hockey in Canada before marrying his wonderful wife Jeannie. I remember him going down to "the Spa" , beach 5 at Lake Carmel and play ice hockey with the teenagers on the lake. They would clear the ice of snow with an old Willie's Jeep and set up makeshift goals on each end. Clem would then school these teens with all these fancy moves. Everyone always wanted to be on his team, he was that good !
Talk about a true friendship, back in the 80's, I decided to take my car out one last time before the season ended. I left my home in Pawling on a cold November morning for Island Dragway. Just after crossing The Newburgh-Beacon bridge, I hear this loud bang and proceed to watch my motorhome's driveshaft bouncing along the interstate behind me. Not knowing what I should do, I called Clem who was leaving the house for church with his family. He dropped everything and came to my aid with his tow car. We hook up the trailer and he insists on taking me to Island to race that day, still in his church clothes and crewed for me all day. He wouldn't take a dime for gas either !

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Thanks for the clarification on the change of cars Joe, as Lee said what a great guy and even better the way he lead his life. Did not know about his hockey talents, but not surprised. gonna miss him for sure.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Wow....what can I say. Just a year ago I saw Clem after some thirty two years. We ( Clem, Joe Huestis, Doug Smith, Rich Head ) got together for an evening of drag racing at Roxboro Dragway. The next day Clem was inducted into the East Coast Drag Racing Hall of Fame. We were all there including all his kids. It was a great time.

It was good to see Clem after so many years. Always fun to be with, always trying out "the hot setup" and always polite and courteous to all. Clem exemplified the statement "to never give up". A low buck racer...he was persistent with his race car. He was an excellent fabricator using his skills to make his Ford 6 run hard. I learned a lot as his racing partner for those few years. Man we had many good times. He will be missed by many.

To Joe Huestis, you were the thread that kept us in touch....I am so grateful to have finally got some time with him before his passing. Thanks.

Fred


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Pictures courtesy of Dino ....www.doverdragstrip.com

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I'm not sure just what to say. Clem was a drag racer that few who ever met him would forget. I remember him racing at the nostalgia race at Roxboro that week-end. At the cookout on Friday he came up to me and said he had heard we were going to carry some of the cars, that were at the reunion, and go racing on Friday night and could anyone participate. I told him that we do not limit how many cars can come and race. We just go to that old dragstrip and race for fun. Got to Roxboro and here Clem was ready to have some fun. God bless and our condolences to his family and friends.

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Funeral arrangements:
Visiting Hours 2 - 4pm and 7 - 9pm, Friday 12/21 Cargain Funeral home Carmel, NY
Service Saturday, 12/22 11am @ The Mission Church Rt.52 Holmes,NY
Friday night after hours all his racing friends will gather at Smalley Inn For a toast to celebrate his life. This is the same place we spent many a night bench racing for many years. All are welcome !!

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

Clem was a great guy and a great racer. I first met him in 1979 or so in the lanes at the Valley. I don't think he knew he was a "Role Model" for young racers at the time, but I learned alot by watching him and talking to him in the lanes. He told me many years ago "Nobody wins every weekend,so have as much fun as you can every race" . That is a lesson I try to keep in mind all these years later. I will miss seeing him, but I will never forget him.

BK

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I had the pleasure of being in the other lane that wonderful fall evening in Roxboro in 2011. I got to see first hand that 6 cly Maverick easily pulling away from my small block Duster. I got back to the pits and told pops ( Chris3) " i don't know what that was in the other lane but it sounded like a mad weedwacker". I was quickly told it was the "Mad Frenchman". I Walked over and congraulated him on his win, and had a great conversation with this great racer. Our prayers are with his family and friends. R.I.P and Godspeed to you " The Mad Frenchmen".

Chris

Re: R.I.P. Clem Lachance, "The Mad Frenchman"
 

I got to know Clem because he raced something with less than eight cylinders-he was great to talk to and that Maverick of his was such a neat car-RIP Clem-say hi to my friend and fellow six-cylinder Ford racer Rey Argenta when you see him.